USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) (known affectionately as the Big Stick or TR)
is the fourth Nimitz-class supercarrier and her call sign is Rough Rider,
the name of President Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry unit during
the Spanish-American War. She was launched on 27 October 1984 and saw her
first action during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
On 9 June 1990, Capt. Charles S. Abbot became the ship's third Commanding Officer
and on 28 December, Theodore Roosevelt and CVW-8 deployed for Operation Desert Shield.
With the commencement of Operation Desert Storm on 15 January 1991, Theodore Roosevelt
commenced combat operations, eventually flying over 4,200 sorties
more than any other carrier) and dropping more than 4,800,000 pounds of ordnance
before the cease-fire on 28 February.